Fellow graphic, brand, and web designers, let’s have an honest conversation about investing in your design business as a way to sustainably reach your goals. Over the 10+ years that I have worked in this industry, I have experienced the power of investing in my business firsthand. And I’ve also seen how my incredible Brand Strategy School students choose to invest in themselves, they are able to unlock levels of growth that would have been out of reach, if they chose to walk the DIY route.
If you are a designer who struggles with the idea of investing in yourself, for whatever reason, then today’s post is here to help show you how investing in yourself is actually a necessary part of running a sustainable business with longevity in mind. So if that serves you well today, friend, keep on scrolling as we dive on in.
Investing In Your Design Business To Reach Your Goals
First of all, as we get into today’s topic, I think it’s important that I share just how this decision to invest in myself has been pivotal in my own journey. Granted, there have been seasons, especially when I was getting started, where I didn’t have the resources to hire the best business coach or to invest in the most expensive courses. Of course there are going to be seasons that you’re probably experiencing where it’s important that you do honor your available resources. As a result, sometimes we have to DIY things a bit, but I believe that there are so many different ways that we can invest in our businesses that don’t necessarily require us to be spending money.
In those early years, when I was getting my business up off the ground, although I didn’t have thousands of dollars to invest into education, I did have the relationships around me where I could ask for help. For example, my husband was someone who I could for help with some of the responsibilities around the house so that I would have more time to spend on client work.
This is a really easy way where so many of us can look at the resources, opportunities, or the support systems that we currently have in place and we can ask ourselves, “are there investments of time, energy, or communication where I could potentially be receiving more help and more support from the people that are already in my circle?” For a lot of us, there are opportunities that are waiting for us. We just have to open ourselves up to that bravery that it takes to ask for help and then receive that help!
USING FAILURE AS YOUR TEACHER
In the decade that I have been in business, I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars to grow my business through courses, coaches, mentors, tech and even team members. And I don’t regret any of the money that I’ve spent, even though I have spent some of that money on experiences or opportunities that didn’t pan out quite like I had planned.
The reason why I don’t have any regrets when it comes to investing in my business is because every single opportunity, even the ones that did not meet my expectations, taught me something! I am absolutely of the mindset where failure is not really a failure because everything that doesn’t work out quite the way we anticipate is an opportunity to learn something. So to me, failure is a teacher. I’m not losing, I’m winning every single step of the way.
INVESTING IN THE RIGHT KIND OF SUPPORT
Investing in your business can feel intimidating! One thing that I find fascinating about our industry as a whole is that as designers, we often have no problem investing in new tech, new tools, new subscriptions, or new fonts. But, when it comes to investing in ourselves, putting our money where our mouth is, and backing ourselves through joining a course, or program, or hiring a coach or working with a mentor, we often talk ourselves out of that investment. Realistically, if we gave ourselves the permission to invest in that coach or to join that program, assuming that the experience is aligned with your goals and is the support that you need in the season, it could make your journey so much easier, faster, or more profitable!
Yet, we spend so much money every year on tech, software, tools, or shiny templates, because we can easily justify those expenses. We use them with our clients or we’ll use them with our own brands, right? But if you applied that same perspective to programs, courses, group coaching experiences or private coaching, you would actually find that that applies in that space too! When you choose to invest in the educational, technical, or tactical support that you need to pursue your goals as a designer, you’re opening yourself up to receiving guidance from people who have already watched the path that you want to walk!
INVESTING IN QUALITY CONTENT
Now, I will say that there’s a lot of education out there. There are a lot of people who are promising big results from their programs. And so I encourage you when you’re considering investing in something, whether that’s working with someone one on one, or even through a course or a group program experience, do your homework! Make sure that the people you’re learning from have actually experienced the results that they are promising you.
For example, inside the Brand Strategy School, I’m confident that I am able to teach designers how to reach consistent $10K months by leveraging my brand strategy process as their superpower. I have not only been able to do that for myself year after year after year, but I’ve also been able to do it for so many of the 150+ designers who have joined that program.
We have to make sure that whatever we are investing in is aligned with our goals and with what we want to experience. We also want to make sure that the format, teaching experience, and the person who’s teaching that content is going to align with what you need in this season. So I just encourage you if there’s a program that’s on your investment wishlist do yourself the favor of connecting with that person, asking questions, reading case studies or reviews from past clients, and making sure that it really does feel like a good fit for you!
INVEST WITH INTENTION
When we think about investing in our businesses, we have an incredible opportunity to change the trajectory that we are on. What I mean by that is, when you keep yourself closed off and you tell yourself that you have to always be the one who’s doing everything yourself, then you are unintentionally cutting yourself off from the support system that will not only be there for you every single step of the way, but you’re also cutting yourself off from the support system that will save you time, energy, and money. So, although yes, we do have seasons where we do need to go to the DIY route, I do not believe that is a sustainable way to grow long term. When we are looking at investing in our businesses, we need to look at it as just that, an investment.
This isn’t a one time sunken cost that you pour into. Instead, this is an investment that aligns with your goals and you are showing up, doing the work, and implementing whatever that experience offers. You should expect to see a dynamic return on that investment! For example, when my students join the Brand Strategy School, although they’re investing money up front to join this program, they are making that money back quickly, sometimes less than 48 hours! They are showing up, doing the work, and they’re able to book clients at higher price points because of that experience.
HOW TO INVEST WITH CONFIDENCE
So when you are looking at your business to make a purchase or join an educational experience, be sure to ask yourself:
- What is the return that I am expecting when I join this?
- Is this going help me make more money?
- Will this help free up more time or make my life easier in some way?
You want to be able to pour back into your business or pour back into yourself! These are the exact question I asm myself so that I am incredibly clear with myself about what kind of ROI I expect to see. I know I can confidently invest my money in that experience! Not only do I have the clarity of what I want to experience and what outcome I am working towards, but I also am committed with myself and to myself to show up and participate in whatever that investment is, so that I am actually seeing the return that I want.
INVESTING IN YOURSELF
Investing in myself as I’ve become the CEO of this business, stepping out of that entrepreneur, freelancer mentality, and really stepping into this profitable CEO mentality means that I invest in myself, not just in my business, but in my personal life. I know that when I am the happiest, healthiest, most well rested version of myself, I am able to show up differently in my business for my team, for my clients, and for my Brand Strategy School students.
Investments, as an entrepreneur, are not limited to the tech, tools, apps, courses, programs, or coaches. It also looks like investing in therapy, in health, in wellness, right? For example, some investment I have made in myself are…a Peloton app subscription, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, a house cleaner, and meal delivery. I put my money back into myself so that I am able to be a happy, healthy, version of myself in my personal life, which then pours into my business!
So yes, we can sit here and talk about all the incredible ways that you can invest in your business through software, coaches, mentors, or courses. But I also want you to look at the way that you’re treating yourself! Remember, you are an integral part of your business’ success!
MOVING TOWARDS YOUR UNIQUE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
Having the support around you in order to pursue your goals makes such a big difference! In the decade that I have been running my business, I have benefited so greatly from different kinds of educational experiences like, hiring one-on-one coaches or mentors, joining courses, joining group coaching programs, or going to workshops or conferences. And then, of course, all of the software, tech, apps, nd all of the digital assets that I utilize to run my business more smoothly day in and day out.
But it’s important that we look at what are the investments that we choose to make on a deeper level in our businesses that will move us forward, towards our unique definitions of success. I’m sharing this with you today because I don’t want see you continue to spend hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars every quarter on gorgeous new fonts, yet feel like you are not able to invest in the kind of educational support or relational support that you need in this season to take your business to the next level.
Are you ready to invest in your design business to reach your goals?
With that being said, I encourage you to think about what your business could look like. How will your growth be accelerated when you found the right support to take you to that next level? For every single person that looks different. For some of us that might be a course or a program, for others that might be a coach or a mentor, for others that might be focusing on getting our mental health in a healthier place, working with a therapist or a counselor, right? There’s no right or wrong answer, but it’s important to understand what that looks like for yourself, so that you’re able to take action that aligns with where you would like to grow so that you’re able to move towards your definition of success with intention.
Friend, I hope that this encourages you where you are and shows you just how powerful investing in your business as a designer can be. I’ve been sharing a little bit about my signature program for graphic, brand and web designers, the Brand Strategy School. If you’d like to learn more about joining me and the incredible global group of designers already making big moves inside this community, then I invite you to head on over to the program page to learn more about joining us today!
JOIN THE BRAND STRATEGY SCHOOL
Through brand strategy, you are able to take your business to consistently profitable months so that you are able to work with a select number of ideal clients who are ready to invest in your work accordingly. And that is a beautiful thing, friend. I would love to invite you to join us! If you’re curious about what exactly brand strategy can do for your business, then go check out my totally free training, where I show you how brand strategy has the power to transform your business. You can go to grab your free seat to my class on how to exponentially increase your income as a designer and get all the juicy details there as always friend, I’m cheering you on from Waco. And I cannot wait to see how your next move to invest in your design business results in a massive ROI.
SIGN UP FOR THIS FREE MASTERCLASS
P.S. Did you enjoy today’s post or have you found value in another resource that I have shared in the past? You can head here to buy me a coffee, and I would be so honored by your support! I am so thankful you are here, and always cheering you on from Waco!☕️
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